Urine sample testing apparatus and apparatus for processing measurement result of urine sample

ABSTRACT

A urine sample testing apparatus may include a urine qualitative measuring section configured to acquire a measurement result for each of a plurality of urine qualitative measurement items and a urine sediment measuring section configured to acquire a measurement result for each of a plurality of urine sediment measurement items. The apparatus may also include an operation part that can specify a combination of one of the plurality of urine qualitative measurement items and one of the plurality of urine sediment measurement items. An information processing unit may be included and configured to determine whether a first measurement result of the urine sample obtained by the urine qualitative measuring section and a second measurement result of the urine sample obtained by the urine sediment measuring section have a predetermined relationship with respect to the urine qualitative measurement item and the urine sediment measurement item included in the specified combination.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/308,219 filed on Jun. 18, 2014, which is a continuation of U.S.application Ser. No. 13/194,167 filed on Jul. 29, 2011, which claimspriority under 35 U.S.C. §119 to Japanese Patent Application No.2010-174191 filed on Aug. 3, 2010, the entire contents of which ishereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a urine sample testing apparatus and anapparatus for processing measurement results of a urine sample.

2. Description of the Related Art

A urine qualitative analyzer and a urine sediment analyzer are widelyknown as an analyzer used for urine testing. U.S. Patent Publication No.2007/072301 discloses a measurement result check device for mutuallychecking a measurement result obtained by the urine qualitative analyzerand a measurement result obtained by the urine sediment analyzer, andevaluating the reliability of such measurement results. The measurementresult check device is configured to carry out mutual check ofmeasurement results obtained by the urine qualitative analyzer and theurine sediment analyzer for combinations of measurement items set inadvance, that is, a combination of occult blood concentration and redblood cell concentration, a combination of white blood cellconcentration and white blood cell concentration, a combination ofprotein concentration and cylinder concentration, a combination ofnitrite salt concentration and bacteria concentration, and a combinationof specific gravity and conductivity.

However, according to the measurement result check device described inU. S. Patent Publication No. 2007/072301, the check of the measurementresult is carried out only for the combinations of the measurement itemsset in advance in the device, and the measurement result cannot bechecked for a combination of measurement items that have not been set.Therefore, it is difficult to flexibly respond to the user's desire tocheck a new combination of measurement items.

In view of such situations, it is a main object of the present inventionto provide an apparatus which allows the user to check a new combinationof measurement items easily according to the user's desire.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The scope of the present invention is defined solely by the appendedclaims, and is not affected to any degree by the statements within thissummary.

A first aspect of the present invention is a urine sample testingapparatus comprising: a urine qualitative measuring section configuredto measure a urine sample and acquire a measurement result for each of aplurality of urine qualitative measurement items; a urine sedimentmeasuring section configured to measure the urine sample and acquire ameasurement result for each of a plurality of urine sediment measurementitems; an operation part that is operable by a user to specify acombination of one of the plurality of urine qualitative measurementitems and one of the plurality of urine sediment measurement items; aninformation processing unit configured to determine whether or not afirst measurement result of the urine sample obtained by the urinequalitative measuring section and a second measurement result of theurine sample obtained by the urine sediment measuring section have apredetermined relationship with respect to the urine qualitativemeasurement item and the urine sediment measurement item included in thecombination specified through the operation part; and an output unitconfigured to output a determination result by the informationprocessing unit.

According to this configuration, the degree of freedom of thecombination of the measurement items can be enhanced at the time ofchecking the measurement results. The combination of the measurementitems used to check the measurement results thus can be easily extendedaccording to the request of the user. Furthermore, when information forassisting the diagnosis is obtained from the measurement results of twomeasurement items and not only the check on the reliability of themeasurement result, information can be acquired for the combination ofmeasurement items desired by the user. Thus, each measurement result canbe utilized more advantageously than one in the prior art.

A second aspect of the present invention is an apparatus for processinga measurement result of a urine sample comprising: a measurement resultacquiring unit configured to acquire a measurement result of a urinesample for each of a plurality of urine qualitative measurement itemsfrom a urine qualitative measuring section and acquire a measurementresult of the urine sample for each of a plurality of urine sedimentmeasurement items from a urine sediment measuring section; an operationpart that is operable by a user to specify a combination of one of theplurality of urine qualitative measurement items and one of theplurality of urine sediment measurement items; an information processingunit configured to determine whether or not a first measurement resultof the urine sample obtained by the urine qualitative measuring sectionand a second measurement result of the urine sample obtained by theurine sediment measuring section have a predetermined relationship withrespect to the urine qualitative measurement item and the urine sedimentmeasurement item included in the combination specified through theoperation part; and an output unit configured to output a determinationresult by the information processing unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of an entire system including aurine sample testing apparatus according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a view showing a circuit configuration of a urine qualitativemeasuring section, a urine sediment measuring section, a transport unit,and a host computer;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration of an informationprocessing unit according to the embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing a configuration of a cross check setvalue database;

FIG. 5 is a view showing one example of a cross check table;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the cross check settingprocess in the urine sample testing apparatus according to theembodiment;

FIG. 7 is a view showing one example of a cross check setting dialogue;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the setting acceptingprocess;

FIG. 9 is a view showing one example of a rank value setting dialogue;

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are flowcharts showing the processing procedure bythe information processing unit in the sample analyzing operation of theurine sample testing apparatus according to the embodiment;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the measurement resultdisplay process in the information processing unit according to theembodiment; and

FIG. 12 is a view showing one example of a measurement result screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be describedbelow with reference to the drawings.

The present embodiment relates to a clinical sample analyzer forcarrying out test of urine protein, urinary sugar or the like (urinequalitative test) and test of red blood cells, white blood cells,epidermal cells, and the like contained in the urine (urine sedimenttest). The urine sediment test is carried out on the sample determinedthat further test on the urine sediment is necessary as a result of theurine qualitative test. In the present embodiment, a plurality of samplecontainers containing different samples is set in a rack, and the rackis set in the sample analyzer to test each sample.

[Configuration of Urine Sample Testing Apparatus]

A urine sample testing apparatus according to the present embodimentwill be hereinafter described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a view showing a configuration of an entire system including aurine sample testing apparatus 1. The urine sample testing apparatus 1according to the present embodiment includes a measurement unit 10, atransport unit 20, and an information processing unit 30.

The measurement unit 10 includes a urine qualitative measuring section11 for carrying out the urine qualitative test, and a urine sedimentmeasuring section 12 for carrying out the urine sediment test. The urinequalitative measuring section 11 and the urine sediment measuringsection 12 are communicably connected to each other. The urinequalitative measuring section 11 and the urine sediment measuringsection 12 are respectively communicably connected to the informationprocessing unit 30. The urine qualitative measuring section 11 is alsocommunicably connected to the transport unit 20.

The transport unit 20 is a single unit common to the urine qualitativemeasuring section 11 and the urine sediment measuring section 12. Thetransport unit 20 is attached to the front surface of the measurementunit 10, and includes a transport path 21. The transport path 21 has aflat-plate shaped bottom surface one stage lower than the upper surfaceof the transport unit 20. A sample rack 50 transported on the transportpath 21 is formed with ten holders to hold ten sample containers 51. Thesample container 51 is transported on the transport path 21 with thesample rack 50 by being held in the holder of the sample rack 50. Abarcode label (not shown) for specifying the sample is attached to theside surface of the sample container 51. The information processing unit30 is communicably connected to a host computer 40 through acommunication line.

The transport path 21 is configured by a square right tank region 21 aarranged on the right side, a square left tank region 21 c arranged onthe left side, and a coupling region 21 b for coupling the right tankregion 21 a and the left tank region 21 c. When the sample rack 50 ismounted on the near side of the right tank region 21 a by the user, thesample rack 50 mounted on the right tank region 21 a is transferredbackward (direction of approaching the measurement unit 10) and ispositioned at the end on the far side of the right tank region 21 a. Thesample rack 50 positioned at the far side of the right tank region 21 ais transferred leftward through the coupling region 21 b.

The barcode reader 116 reads the barcode information from the barcodelabel attached to the sample container 51 positioned in front of thebarcode reader 116. The barcode reader 116 is controlled by the controlunit 111 of the urine qualitative measuring section 11, to be describedlater.

The coupling region 21 b includes two aspirating positions foraspirating the sample from the sample container 51 held in the samplerack 50, where the sample is aspirated by the nozzle arranged in theurine qualitative measuring section 11 from the sample container 51positioned at one aspirating position, and the sample is aspirated bythe nozzle arranged in the urine sediment measuring section 12 from thesample container 51 positioned at the other aspirating position. Thesample rack 50 in which the aspiration of all the samples is completedis transferred towards the left along the coupling region 21 b, andpositioned on the far side of the left tank region 21 c.

The sample rack 50 positioned on the far side of the left tank region 21c is transferred frontward, and sequentially positioned on the near sideof the left tank region 21 c. The sample rack 50 positioned in front ofthe left tank region 21 c is then taken out by the user.

FIG. 2 is a view showing a circuit configuration of the urinequalitative measuring section 11, the urine sediment measuring section12, the transport unit 20, and the host computer 40.

The urine qualitative measuring section 11 includes a control unit 111,a communication unit 112, an aspirating unit 113, a test paper supplyunit 114, a detection unit 115, and a barcode reader 116. The controlunit 111 includes a CPU 111 a and a storing portion 111 b. The CPU 111 aexecutes the computer program stored in the storing portion 111 b, andcontrols each unit of the urine qualitative measuring section 11. TheCPU 111 a controls each portion of the transport unit 20 through thecommunication unit 112. The storing portion 111 b includes a storagemeans such as a ROM, a RAM, or a hard disc. The relevant urinequalitative measuring section 11 can carry out the measurement of thesample for a plurality of measurement items (urine qualitativemeasurement item). The urine qualitative measurement item includesglucose (GLU), protein (PRO), albumin (ALB), bilirubin (BIL),urobilinogen (URO), pH (PH), occult blood (BLD), ketone body (KET),nitrite salt (NIT), white blood cells (LEU), creatinine (CRE), andalbumin/creatinine ratio (A/C).

The communication unit 112 processes the signal received from thecontrol unit 111 and outputs the processed signal to the urine sedimentmeasuring section 12, the transport unit 20, and the informationprocessing unit 30, and processes the signal received from the urinesediment measuring section 12, the transport unit 20, and theinformation processing unit 30 and outputs the processed signal to thecontrol unit 111. The aspirating unit 113 aspirates the sample in thesample container 51 positioned at one aspirating position through thenozzle of the urine qualitative measuring section 11. The test papersupply unit 114 retrieves the test paper necessary for the measurementfrom the test paper feeder containing the test paper, and spot attachesthe sample aspirated by the aspirating unit 113 on the retrieved testpaper. The detection unit 115 measures the test paper spot attached withthe sample. The measurement data obtained by such measurement is outputto the control unit 111, and analyzed by the control unit 111. Thebarcode reader 116 reads the barcode information from the barcode labelattached to the sample container 51, and outputs the barcode informationto the control unit 111.

The urine sediment measuring section 12 includes a control unit 121, acommunication unit 122, an aspirating unit 123, a specimen preparingunit 124, and a detection unit 125. The control unit 121 includes a CPU121 a and a storing portion 121 b. The CPU 121 a executes the computerprogram stored in the storing portion 121 b, and controls each unit ofthe urine sediment measuring section 12. The storing portion 121 bincludes a storage means such as a ROM, a RAM, or a hard disc. The urinesediment measuring section 12 can carry out the measurement of thesample for a plurality of measurement items (urine sediment measurementitem). The urine sediment measurement item includes red blood cell(RBC), white blood cell (WBC), epidermal cell (EC), cast (CAST),bacteria (BACT), crystal (X′TAL), yeast like fungus (YLC), small roundcell (SRC), pathological cast (Path. CAST) including cell component,mucus (MUCUS), sperm (SPERM), urine conductivity (Cond.), red blood cellmorphology information (RBC-Info.), urine concentration information(Cond.-Info.), and UTI (urinary tract infection) information (UTI-Info.)

The communication unit 122 processes the signal received from thecontrol unit 121 and outputs the processed signal to the urinequalitative measuring section 11 and the information processing unit 30,and processes the signal received from the urine qualitative measuringsection 11 and the information processing unit 30 and outputs theprocessed signal to the control unit 111. The aspirating unit 123aspirates the sample in the sample container 51 positioned at the otheraspirating position described above through the nozzle of the urinesediment measuring section 12. The specimen preparing unit 124 mixes andstirs the sample aspirated by the aspirating unit 123 and the reagentnecessary for the measurement, and prepares the specimen for measurementby the detection unit 125. The detection unit 125 measures the sampleprepared by the specimen preparing unit 124. The measurement dataobtained by such measurement is transmitted to the informationprocessing unit 30.

The transport unit 20 includes a communication section 201, a transportdrive section 202, and a sensor section 203. The communication section201 processes the signal received from the urine qualitative measuringsection 11 and outputs the processed signal to each section of thetransport unit 20, and processes the signal received from each sectionof the transport unit 20 and outputs the processed signal to the urinequalitative measuring section 11.

The transport drive section 202 is controlled by the CPU 111 a of theurine qualitative measuring section 11. The sensor section 203 includesvarious types of sensors arranged in the transport unit 20, and outputsthe output signals from such sensors to the urine qualitative measuringsection 11 through the communication section 201.

The host computer 40 includes a control unit 401 and a communicationunit 402. The control unit 401 includes a CPU 401 a and a storingportion 401 b. The CPU 401 a executes the computer program stored in thestoring portion 401 b, and returns the measurement order stored in thestoring portion 401 b when receiving an inquiry of the measurement orderfrom the information processing unit 30. The CPU 401 a also determinesthe measurement order of the urine sediment measuring section 12 basedon the measurement data received from the urine qualitative measuringsection 11 through the information processing unit 30 and the referenceof measurement necessity stored in the storing portion 401 b. Thestoring portion 401 b includes a storage means such as a ROM, a RAM, ora hard disc.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a circuit configuration of the informationprocessing unit 30.

The information processing unit 30 is configured by a personal computerand includes a main body 300, an input unit 310 and a display unit 320.The main body 300 includes a CPU 301, a ROM 302, a RAM 303, a hard disc304, a read-out device 305, an input/output interface 306, an imageoutput interface 307, and a communication interface 308.

The CPU 301 executes computer programs stored in the ROM 302 and thecomputer programs loaded in the RAM 303. The RAM 303 is used to read outthe computer programs recorded on the ROM 302 and the hard disc 304. TheRAM 303 is also used as a work region of the CPU 301 when executing thecomputer programs.

The hard disc 304 is installed with various computer programs to beexecuted by the CPU 301 such as operating systems and applicationprograms and data used for the execution of the computer programs. Inother words, the hard disc 304 is installed with a program for making aninquiry of the measurement order to the host computer 40 based on theinquiry of the measurement order, to be described later, transmittedfrom the urine qualitative measuring section 11 and the urine sedimentmeasuring section 12, a program for transmitting the measurement ordertransmitted from the host computer 40 to the urine qualitative measuringsection 11 and the urine sediment measuring section 12, and the like.The hard disc 304 is also installed with a program for carrying outdisplay of the urine qualitative test result on the display unit 320based on the measurement data transmitted from the urine qualitativemeasuring section 11, a program for carrying out display of the urinesediment test result on the display unit 320 based on the measurementdata transmitted from the urine sediment measuring section 12, and thelike.

The hard disc 304 includes a cross check set value database. FIG. 4 is aschematic view showing a configuration of the cross check set valuedatabase. The cross check set value database DB includes a table T1 forstoring the set value of the combination (cross check target item) ofthe urine qualitative measurement item and the urine sedimentmeasurement item, and a table T2 for storing cross check tableinformation in each cross check target item.

The table T1 includes a field F11 for storing a set value number, afield F12 for storing a set value (use flag) on whether or not to usethe record thereof, a field F13 for storing a set value (display flag)on whether or not to display the cross check mark in the measurementresult screen, to be described later, a field F14 for storing the urinequalitative measurement item set as the cross check target item, and afield F15 for storing the urine sediment measurement item set as thecross check target item. In other words, each record of the table T1includes a pair of urine qualitative measurement item and urine sedimentmeasurement item specified as cross check target items, a use flag, anda display flag.

The table T2 includes a field F21 for storing the cross check targetitem set in the table T1, and a field F22 for storing the cross checktable information corresponding to such cross check target item. Thecross check table information is information used to determine whetheror not the measurement value of the urine qualitative measurement itemand the measurement value of the urine sediment measurement item, whichare corresponding cross check target items, have specific relationship.The cross check table information will be described later.

The information processing unit 30 according to the present embodimentcan execute the cross check of the measurement result for determiningwhether or not the measurement result of the urine qualitative measuringsection 11 and the measurement result of the urine sediment measuringsection 12 have a predetermined relationship using the relevant crosscheck set value database DB. Specifically, if the combination of proteinand cast is set in the cross check set value database DB as the crosscheck target item, whether or not the measurement result of the protein(PRO) by the urine qualitative measuring section 11 and the measurementresult of the cast (CAST) by the urine sediment measuring section 12 ofthe same sample are in a relationship defined in the cross check tableinformation of the table T2 is determined. FIG. 5 is a view showing oneexample of a cross check table. In the cross check table CRT shown inFIG. 5, the vertical axis shows the rank of the measurement value of theurine qualitative measurement item (protein) and the horizontal axisshows the rank of the measurement value of the urine sedimentmeasurement item (cast). The rank is given by the rank set value storedin the hard disc 304. The rank set value will be described later. In thecross check table CRT, whether conformance (cell drawn with diagonallines in the figure) or non-conformance (white cell in the figure) isset for each combination of the rank of the measurement value of theurine qualitative measurement item and the rank of the measurement valueof the urine sediment measurement item. In the cross check of themeasurement result, if the measurement value of the urine qualitativemeasurement item and the measurement value of the urine qualitativemeasurement item correspond to “conformance” in the cross check tableCRT, such measurement values are determined to correspond to apredetermined relationship (e.g., reliability of measurement result islow), and if the measurement value of the urine qualitative measurementitem and the measurement value of the urine qualitative measurement itemcorrespond to “non-conformance”, such measurement values are determinednot to correspond to a predetermined relationship (e.g., reliability ofmeasurement result is low). The cross check table information of thetable T2 shows the cross check table CRT described above. Specifically,the cross check table information stored in the field F22 of the tableT2 is expressed with the combination of two numerical values of “0” and“1”, as shown in FIG. 4. Here, “0” indicates “non-conformance” in onecell of the cross check table CRT and “1” indicates “conformance”. Thedata in which “0” and “1” respectively indicating “conformance” and“non-conformance” of each cell are lined in a predetermined ordercomplying with the lining of each cell in the cross check table CRT isthe cross check table information.

The readout device 305 is configured by a CD-ROM drive or DVD-drive andis capable of reading out a computer program and data recorded in arecording medium. The input unit 310 including mouse and keyboard isconnected to the input/output interface 306, so that the user can usethe input unit 310 to input data to the information processing unit 30.The image output interface 307 is connected to the display unit 320configured by display, or the like, and outputs a video signalcorresponding to the image data to the display unit 320. The displayunit 320 displays the image based on the input video signal. The datacan be transmitted and received with respect to the urine qualitativemeasuring section 11, the urine sediment measuring section 12 and thehost computer 40 by the communication interface 308.

[Operation of Urine Sample Testing Apparatus]

<Cross Check Setting Process>

The operation of the urine sample testing apparatus 1 according to thepresent embodiment will be described below. The cross check settingprocess of the urine sample testing apparatus 1 will be described first.The cross check setting process is a process of setting the combinationof the urine qualitative measurement item and the urine sedimentmeasurement item specified by the user as the target items of crosscheck, to be described later.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the cross check settingprocess in the urine sample testing apparatus 1 according to the presentembodiment.

First, the CPU 301 of the information processing unit 30 determineswhether or not a display instruction of the cross check setting dialogueis accepted from the user (step S101). The cross check setting dialogueis a screen for the user to specify the combination of the urinequalitative measurement item and the urine sediment measurement item asthe target items of the cross check. If the display instruction of suchcross check setting dialogue is not accepted (NO in step S101), the CPU301 terminates the process.

If the display instruction of the cross check setting dialogue isaccepted (YES in step S101), the CPU 301 reads out the cross check setvalue from the hard disc 304, displays the cross check setting dialoguereflecting the cross check set value on the display unit 320 (stepS102), and executes a setting accepting process (step S103).

FIG. 7 is a view showing one example of the cross check settingdialogue. As shown in the figure, in the cross check setting dialogueD1, up to ten cross check set values can be registered. In the crosscheck setting dialogue D1, the number (1 to 10) of the cross check setvalue is vertically lined for display, and a radio button C11 isdisplayed next to each number. The check box 12 for specifying whetheror not to use such cross check set value is arranged on the right ofeach radio button C11. A check box C13 for specifying whether or not todisplay the cross check mark in the measurement result screen, to bedescribed later, is arranged on the right side of each check box C12.Furthermore, selection boxes C14, C15 for specifying the cross checktarget item are arranged on the right side of each check box C13.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the setting acceptingprocess. In the setting accepting process, the CPU 301 first determineswhether or not one of the radio buttons C11 is selected (step S201). Inthe cross check setting dialogue D1, the user selects one of the tenradio buttons C11 by operating the input unit 310. If the selection ofone of the radio buttons C11 is accepted (YES in step S201), the CPU 301displays the cross check table of the cross check target itemcorresponding to the radio button C11 in the region A10 on the rightside of the cross check setting dialogue D1 (step S202), and proceedsthe process to step S203. If the cross check target item correspondingto the selected radio button C11 is not specified with the selectionboxes C14, C15, the cross check table is not displayed until the crosscheck target item, to be described later, is specified. If the selectionof the radio button C11 is not accepted in step S201 (NO in step S201),the CPU 301 proceeds the process to step S203.

In step S203, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the specification ofthe urine qualitative measurement item is accepted as the cross checktarget item by one of the selection boxes C14 (step S203). When thedownward arrow symbol on the right side of the selection box C14 isselected, the pull down menu of the list of all urine qualitativemeasurement items is displayed, so that the user can specify one urinequalitative measurement item from the list. If the specification of theurine qualitative measurement item is accepted in step S203 (YES in stepS203), the CPU 301 stores the specified urine qualitative measurementitem in the RAM 303 in correspondence with the set value number (stepS204), and proceeds the process to step S205. If the specification ofthe urine qualitative measurement item is not accepted in step S203 (NOin step S203), the CPU 301 proceeds the process to step S205.

In step S205, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the specification ofthe urine sediment measurement item is accepted as the cross checktarget item by one of the selection boxes C15 (step S205). When thedownward arrow symbol on the right side of the selection box C15 isselected, the pull down menu of the list of all urine sedimentmeasurement items is displayed, so that the user can specify one urinesediment measurement item from the list. If the specification of theurine sediment measurement item is accepted in step S205 (YES in stepS205), the CPU 301 stores the specified urine sediment measurement itemin the RAM 303 in correspondence with the set value number (step S206),and proceeds the process to step S207. If the specification of the urinesediment measurement item is not accepted in step S205 (NO in stepS205), the CPU 301 proceeds the process to step S207.

In step S207, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the selection of thecell of the cross check table displayed in the region A10 is accepted(step S207). Each cell of the cross check table displayed in the regionA10 indicates whether or not the rank of the measurement value of theurine qualitative measurement item and the rank of the measurement valueof the urine sediment measurement item corresponding to the relevantcell conform with a predetermined relationship. In other words, the blue(indicated with diagonal lines in the figure) cell indicates conformanceto the predetermined relationship, and the white cell indicatesnon-conformance to the predetermined relationship. Each cell of therelevant cross check table is selectable. When the user selects one cellof the cross check table by operating the input unit 310, the cell ischanged to white if blue, or the cell is changed to blue if white. Thatis, the cell is changed to a cell that is non-conformance to thepredetermined relationship when the cell conforming to the predeterminedrelationship is selected, and the cell is changed to the cell conformingto the predetermined relationship when the cell non-conforming to thepredetermined relationship is selected.

If the selection of the cell of the cross check table is accepted instep 207 (YES in step S207), the CPU 301 stores the specified set valuein the RAM 303 in correspondence with the set value number (step S208),and proceeds the process to step S209. If the selection of the cell ofthe cross check table is not accepted in step S207 (NO in step S207),the CPU 301 proceeds the process to step S209.

In step S209, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the specification touse or not use the cross check set value is accepted by selecting one ofthe check boxes C12 (step S209). The cross check set value which checkbox C12 is selected (checked) is used in the cross check. The crosscheck set value which check box C12 is not selected (unchecked) is notused in the cross check. If the specification to use or not use thecross check set value is accepted in step S209 (YES in step S209), theCPU 301 stores the use flag of the cross check set value in the RAM 303in correspondence with the set value number (step S210), and proceedsthe process to step S211. “0” is stored in the use flag if specified notto use the cross check set value, and “1” is stored in the use flag ifspecified to use the cross check set value. If the specification to useor not use the cross check set value is not accepted in step S209 (NO instep S209), the CPU 301 proceeds the process to step S211.

In step S211, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the specification todisplay or not display the cross check mark is accepted by selecting oneof the check boxes C13 (step S211). If the check box C13 is selected(checked), the cross check mark indicating conformance to thepredetermined relationship is displayed in the measurement result screendescribed later to call the attention of the user when the measurementresult of the sample conforms to the predetermined relationship definedin the cross check table. If the check box C13 is not selected(unchecked), the cross check mark is not displayed in the measurementresult screen even if the measurement result of the sample conforms tothe predetermined relationship. If the specification to display or notdisplay the cross check mark is accepted in step S211 (YES in stepS211), the CPU 301 stores the display flag of the cross check set valuein the RAM 303 in correspondence with the set value number (step S212),and returns the process to the callout address of the setting acceptingprocess in the main routine. If the specification to display or notdisplay the cross check mark is not accepted in step S211 (NO in stepS211), the CPU 301 returns the process to the callout address of thesetting accepting process in the main routine.

Returning back to FIG. 6, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the OKbutton arranged in the cross check setting dialogue D1 is selected instep S104 (step S104). If the OK button is not selected (NO in stepS104), the CPU 301 determines whether or not the cancel button arrangedin the cross check setting dialogue D1 is selected (step S105). If thecancel button is not selected (NO in step S105), the CPU returns theprocess to step S103, and again executes the setting accepting process.

If the OK button is selected in step S104 (YES in step S104), the CPU301 registers the cross check set value stored in the RAM 303 in thecross check set value database DB (step S106). That is, the CPU 301registers the combination of the urine qualitative measurement item anda plurality of urine sediment measurement items specified by the user inthe cross check set value database as the set value of the cross checktarget item. The CPU 301 then closes the cross check setting dialogue(step S107), and terminates the process. If the cancel button isselected in step S105 (YES in step S105), the CPU 301 discards the crosscheck set value stored in the RAM 303, closes the cross check settingdialogue (step S107), and terminates the process.

In the information processing unit 30, the rank value described abovecan be set for the urine sediment measurement item. A rank value settingdialogue is displayed on the display unit 320 when the user makes apredetermined input through the input unit 310. FIG. 9 is a view showingone example of the rank value setting dialogue. The user can set therank value using the rank value setting dialogue.

The rank value can be set only for the urine sediment measurement item.The rank value for the urine qualitative measurement item is given inadvance, and the user cannot change the setting. As shown in FIG. 9, therank value setting dialogue D2 includes a selection box C21 forspecifying the urine sediment measurement item. When the selection boxC21 is selected, the pull down menu of the list of all urine sedimentmeasurement items is displayed, so that the user can specify one urinesediment measurement item from the list.

The rank values of 1 to 9 are vertically lined for display at the lowerside of the selection box C21, where an input box C22 for specifying therange of the measurement value corresponding to the respective rankvalue is arranged on the right side of the respective rank value. Morespecifically, an upper limit value of the measurement valuecorresponding to the rank value is input to the nine input boxes C22corresponding to the rank values 1 to 9. For instance, the upper limitvalue of the measurement value corresponding to the rank value 1 of theurine sediment measurement item specified by the selection box C21 isinput to the input box C21 of the rank value 1. In the example of FIG.9, 6/μL is specified as the upper limit value of the measurement valuecorresponding to the rank value 1 for the measurement item “red bloodcells”.

The user specifies the urine sediment measurement item to be set withthe rank value and the upper limit value of the measurement valuecorresponding to each rank value using the rank value setting dialogueD2. When the user selects the OK button arranged in the rank valuesetting dialogue D2 with the set value of the rank value input, theinput rank set value is stored in the hard disc 304. When the cancelbutton arranged in the rank value setting dialogue D2 is selected, theinput rank set value is discarded and the rank value setting dialogue isclosed.

<Sample Analyzing Operation>

The sample analyzing operation by the urine sample testing apparatus 1will now be described. FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are flowcharts showing theprocessing procedure by the information processing unit 30 in the sampleanalyzing operation of the urine sample testing apparatus 1 according tothe present embodiment. The sample analyzing operation starts when theuser operates the input unit 310 of the information processing unit 30to input an instruction to start the sample analysis to the urine sampletesting apparatus 1. After the sample analyzing operation is started,the sample rack 50 is transported by the transport unit 20. The CPU 111a of the urine qualitative measuring section 11 reads out the barcodeinformation from the barcode label attached to the sample container 51transported by the transport unit 20 with the barcode reader 116, andinquires the information processing unit 30 regarding the measurementorder of the urine qualitative measuring section 11 for the sampleindicated by the barcode information.

The information processing unit 30 makes an inquiry on the measurementorder of the urine qualitative test to the host computer 40 (step S301).The measurement order of the sample is registered in advance in the hostcomputer 40, where the host computer 40 transmits the measurement orderto the information processing unit 30 in response to the inquiry if themeasurement order that matches the inquiry is in the registeredmeasurement orders. When receiving the measurement order from the hostcomputer (step S302), the information processing unit 30 transmits themeasurement order to the urine qualitative measuring section 11 (stepS303). Such measurement order includes the urine qualitative measurementitem to be measured and the necessity of measurement. When the urinequalitative measuring section 11 receives the measurement order from theinformation processing unit 30, the CPU 111 a determines whether or notthe measurement is necessary in the urine qualitative measuring section11 for the relevant sample.

When determining that the measurement needs to be carried out in theurine qualitative measuring section 11, the CPU 111 a aspirates thesample from the sample container 51 with the nozzle of the urinequalitative measuring section 11 and carries out the measurement of therelevant sample in the urine qualitative measuring section 11. Whendetermining that the measurement is not necessary in the urinequalitative measuring section 11, the CPU 111 a does not carry out themeasurement of such sample.

The CPU 301 determines whether or not the measurement data is receivedfrom the urine qualitative measuring section 11 (step S304). If themeasurement data is not received from the urine qualitative measuringsection 11 (NO in step S304), the CPU 301 terminates the process. If themeasurement data is received from the urine qualitative measuringsection 11 in step S304 (YES in step S304), the CPU 301 transmits therelevant measurement data (urine qualitative measurement result ofsample) to the host computer 40 (step S305). When receiving themeasurement data of the urine qualitative measuring section 11, the CPU401 a of the host computer 40 determines the measurement order of theurine sediment measuring section 12 based on the measurement data andthe reference of measurement necessity stored in the storing portion 401b in advance.

When the sample container 51 is positioned at the sample aspiratingposition of the urine sediment measuring section 12, the CPU 121 a ofthe urine sediment measuring section 12 inquires the informationprocessing unit 30 regarding the measurement order of the urine sedimentmeasuring section 12. Upon receiving such inquiry, the informationprocessing unit 30 makes an inquiry on the measurement order of theurine sediment test to the host computer 40 (step S306). If themeasurement order that matches the inquiry is in the measurement ordersregistered in the host computer 40, the host computer 40 transmits themeasurement order to the information processing unit 30 in response tothe inquiry. When receiving the measurement order from the host computer(step S307), the information processing unit 30 transmits themeasurement order to the urine sediment measuring section 12(step S308).Such measurement order includes the urine sediment measurement item tobe measured and the necessity of measurement. When the urine sedimentmeasuring section 12 receives the measurement order from the informationprocessing unit 30, the CPU 121 a determines whether or not measurementis necessary in the urine sediment measuring section 12 for the relevantsample.

When determining that the measurement needs to be carried out in theurine sediment measuring section 12, the CPU 121 a aspirates the samplefrom the sample container 51 with the nozzle of the urine sedimentmeasuring section 12, and carries out the measurement of the relevantsample in the urine sediment measuring section 12. The measurement dataof the sample is provided from the urine sediment measuring section 12to the information processing unit 30, and analyzed by the CPU 301 ofthe information processing unit 30. When determining that themeasurement is not necessary in the urine sediment measuring section 12,the CPU 121 a does not carry out the measurement of such sample.

The CPU 301 determines whether or not the measurement data is receivedfrom the urine sediment measuring section 12 (step S309). If themeasurement data is not received from the urine sediment measuringsection 12 (NO in step S309), the CPU 301 proceeds the process to stepS316, stores only the result of the urine qualitative test in the harddisc 304 (step S316), and terminates the process. If the measurementdata is received from the urine sediment measuring section 12 in stepS309 (YES in step S309), the CPU 301 analyzes the measurement data toobtain the urine sediment measurement result of the sample (step S310).

The CPU 301 then reads out the cross check set value registered in thecross check set value database DB and the rank set value stored in thehard disc 304 (step S311), and determines whether or not the cross checktarget item in which the use flag is set to “1” exists in the read crosscheck set value (step S312). If the cross check target item in which theuse flag is set to “1” does not exist in step S312 (NO in step S312),the process proceeds to step S316 to store the urine qualitative testresult and the urine sediment test result in the hard disc 304 (stepS316) and terminates the process.

If the cross check target item in which the use flag is set to “1”exists in step S312 (YES in step S312), the CPU 301 determines whetheror not the measurement result of the sample for the urine qualitativemeasurement item set as the cross check target item in which the useflag is set to “1” and the measurement result of the sample for theurine sediment measurement item set as the cross check target itemcorresponding to the urine qualitative measurement item correspond tothe cell of “conformance” in the cross check table (step S313).

If the urine qualitative measurement result and the urine sedimentmeasurement result correspond to “conformance” in the cross check tablein step S313 (YES in step S313), the CPU 301 sets “1” (value indicatingthat urine qualitative measurement result and urine sediment measurementresult correspond to “conformance” in cross check table) to theinformation (hereinafter referred to as “cross check flag”) indicatingwhether or not the urine qualitative measurement result and the urinesediment measurement result correspond to “conformance” in the crosscheck table in correspondence with the cross check target item andstores the cross check flag in the RAM 303 (step S314), and proceeds theprocess to step S315. Furthermore, the initial value of the cross checkflag is set to “0” (value indicating the urine qualitative measurementresult and urine sediment measurement result correspond to“non-conformance” in the cross check table), and stored in the RAM 303.If the urine qualitative measurement result and the urine sedimentmeasurement result do not correspond to “conformance” in the cross checktable in step S313 (NO in step S313), the CPU 301 proceeds the processto step S315.

In step S315, the CPU 301 determines whether or not the cross check ofthe measurement result is carried out for all the cross check targetitems in which the user flag is set to “1” (step S315), and returns theprocess to step S313 if there is still the cross check target item inwhich the cross check is not yet carried out (NO in step S315), andexecutes the cross check of the measurement result for the cross checktarget item in which the use flag is set to “1” and the cross check isnot yet carried out (step S313). If the cross check of the measurementresult is completed for all the cross check target items in which theuse flag is set to “1” (YES in step S315), the CPU 301 stores theanalysis result (including cross check flag) in the hard disc 304 (stepS316), and terminates the process.

<Measurement Result Display Operation>

The measurement result display operation of the urine sample testingapparatus 1 according to the present embodiment will now be described.In the urine sample testing apparatus 1 according to the presentembodiment, the measurement result display operation can be carried outby having the CPU 301 of the information processing unit 30 execute themeasurement result display process described below.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the measurement resultdisplay process in the information processing unit 30 according to thepresent embodiment.

A measurement result screen is displayed on the display unit 320 whenthe user performs a predetermined input through the input unit 310. TheCPU 301 determines whether or not the instruction to display themeasurement result screen is accepted from the user (step S401). If theinstruction to display the measurement result screen is not accepted (NOin step S401), the CPU 301 terminates the process. If the instruction todisplay the measurement result screen is accepted in step S401 (YES instep S401), the CPU 301 reads out the measurement result (analysisresult stored in step S316) of the sample from the hard disc (stepS402), displays the measurement result screen on the display unit 320(step S403), and terminates the process.

FIG. 12 is a view showing one example of a measurement result screen.The measurement result screen D3 includes a display region A31 of thesample information such as sample ID, patient name, test date etc., adisplay region A32 of the measurement value of the urine qualitativemeasurement item, a display region A33 of the measurement value(numerical data) of the urine sediment measurement item, and a displayregion A34 of a particle size distribution diagram (scattergram andhistogram) contained in the urine sediment measurement result. Theinformation related to the sample which measurement result is displayedin the measurement result screen is displayed in the display region A31.The measurement result obtained by the urine qualitative measuringsection 11 for the relevant sample is displayed in the display regionA32. The measurement result obtained by analyzing the measurement dataobtained by the urine sediment measuring section 12 for the same sampleby the information processing unit 30 is displayed in the displayregions A32, A33.

The measurement result screen D3 also includes a display region A35 fordisplaying information (review comment) on abnormality when abnormalityis detected in the measurement of the sample and determination is madethat the retest is necessary for the relevant sample, a display regionA36 for displaying the sample measurement result of the item set as theresearch item in advance of the urine sediment measurement item, and adisplay region A37 for displaying the sample measurement result of theitem set as the flag item in advance of the urine sediment measurementitem.

The measurement result screen D3 further includes a display region A38for displaying the result of the cross check. In the relevant displayregion A38, when the cross check target item determined that the urinequalitative measurement result and the urine sediment measurement resultcorrespond to a predetermined relationship in the cross check exists,such cross check target item name (information indicating combination ofurine qualitative measurement item and urine sediment measurement item)is displayed. That is, the cross check target item name in which “1” isset to the cross check flag is displayed in the display region A38. Inthe illustrated example, the information “BLD×RBC?” indicating thecombination of the occult blood (BLD) of the urine qualitativemeasurement item and the red blood cells (RBC) of the urine sedimentmeasurement item is displayed in the display region A38, indicating thatthe determination is made that the measurement results corresponds to apredetermined relationship in the cross check target item of thecombination of the occult blood (BLD) of the urine qualitativemeasurement item and the red blood cells (RBC) of the urine sedimentmeasurement item.

Therefore, notification is made that the measurement result of the urinequalitative measurement item and the measurement result of the urinesediment measurement item of the cross check target item are in apredetermined relationship by displaying the cross check target itemname in the display region A38. Therefore, if the predeterminedrelationship indicates that the reliability of the measurement result islow, the user can easily recognize that the reliability of themeasurement result of the sample for the cross check target item is lowby checking the display of the display region A38. If the predeterminedrelationship indicates that a predefined illness is suspected withrespect to the patient, the user can easily recognize that such illnessis being suspected by checking the display of the display region A38. Inthis case, the user can take necessary countermeasures such as checkingthe measurement results of other measurement items or conduct morespecific tests of the sample.

If the measurement result includes the cross check target item in which“1” is set for the cross check flag, and “1” is set for the display flagof the cross check target item in the cross check set value database DB,a cross check marker CM for promoting the attention of the user isdisplayed next to the display region A38. The cross check mark CM isdisplayed with a color (yellow in the present embodiment) that calls theattention of the user. The color of the measurement result screen D3 isgray, and the background of the display regions A31 to A38 is white.Therefore, the cross check mark CM is displayed with a color that callsthe attention of the user in the measurement result screen D3, so thatthe user can easily recognize the cross check mark CM. If the displayflag is set to “0” in the cross check set value database CB for all thecross check target items in which “1” is set to the cross check flag inthe measurement result, the cross check mark CM described above is notdisplayed.

According to the above configuration, the user can freely set the crosscheck target item. For instance, the measurement value of the occultblood (BLD) of the urine qualitative measurement item and themeasurement value of the red blood cells (RBC) of the urine sedimentmeasurement item for the same sample are known to indicate a constantrelationship. Thus, if the measurement value of the occult blood and themeasurement value of the red blood cells are deviated from the constantrelationship, whether the measurement result is accurate in either oneof the measurement values is suspected. Therefore, the user sets theoccult blood (BLD) and the red blood cells (RBC) as the cross checktarget items and appropriately sets the cross check table to cause theinformation processing unit 30 to determine whether or not thereliability of the measurement result is low.

The sample collected from the patient with early diabetic renal diseasetends to demonstrate a high value in the cast (CAST) and alsodemonstrate a high value in the albumin/creatinine ratio (A/C).Therefore, the user sets the albumin/creatinine ratio (A/C) and the cast(CAST) for the cross check target items and appropriately sets thecorresponding cross check table to cause the information processing unit30 to perform the cross check of the measurement value of thealbumin/creatinine ratio (A/C) and the measurement value of the cast(CAST). If the measurement value of the albumin/creatinine ratio (A/C)and the measurement value of the cast (CAST) conform to a predeterminedrelationship as a result of the cross check, the cross check target itemname “A/C×CAST?” of the albumin/creatinine ratio (A/C) and the cast(CAST) is displayed in the display region A38 of the measurement resultscreen D3. If such cross check target item name “A/C×CAST?” isdisplayed, the user can recognize that early diabetic renal disease issuspected for the relevant sample.

The sample collected from the patient with chronic nephritis has atendency of demonstrating high value for the protein (PRO) and highvalue also for the red blood cells (RBC). Therefore, the user sets theprotein (PRO) and the red blood cells (RBC) for the cross check targetitems and appropriately sets the corresponding cross check table tocause the information processing unit 30 to perform the cross check ofthe measurement value of the protein (PRO) and the measurement value ofthe red blood cells (RBC). If the measurement value of the protein (PRO)and the measurement value of the red blood cells (RBC) conform to apredetermined relationship as a result of the cross check, the crosscheck target item name “PRO×RBC?” of the protein (PRO) and the red bloodcells (RBC) is displayed in the display region A38 of the measurementresult screen D3. If such cross check target item name “PRO×RBC?” isdisplayed, the user can recognize that chronic nephritis is suspectedfor the relevant sample.

The sample collected from the patient with chronic nephritis has atendency of being “glomerular” in the red blood cell morphologyinformation in addition to the above. Therefore, the user sets theprotein (PRO) and red blood cell morphology information (RBC-Info.) forthe cross check target item and appropriately sets the correspondingcross check table to cause the information processing unit 30 to performthe cross check of the measurement value of the protein (PRO) and themeasurement value of the red blood cell morphology information(RBC-Info.). If the measurement value of the protein (PRO) and themeasurement value of the red blood cell morphology information(RBC-Info.) conform to a predetermined relationship as a result of thecross check, the cross check target item name “PRO×RBC-Info.?” of theprotein (PRO) and the red blood cell morphology information (RBC-Info.)is displayed in the display region A38 of the measurement result screenD3. If such cross check target item name “PRO×RBC-Info.?” is displayed,the user can recognize that chronic nephritis is suspected for therelevant sample.

The combination of the urine qualitative measurement item and the urinesediment measurement item used in the reliability determination of themeasurement result or the clinical diagnosis differs depending on themedical facility (user) such as hospitals and test centers. In the urinesample testing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment, the usercan set the cross check target item in accordance with the standard ofhis/her facility since the user can freely set the cross check targetitem.

In the embodiment described above, the degree of freedom in thecombination of the measurements when carrying out the check of themeasurement result can be enhanced. The combination of the measurementitems used to check the reliability of the measurement results thus canbe easily extended as necessary. The information for assisting thediagnosis can be acquired from the measurement results of the twomeasurement items, so that the obtained measurement result can beutilized compared to one in the prior art.

(Other Embodiments)

The combination of the urine qualitative measurement item and the urinesediment measurement item typically used in the reliabilitydetermination of the measurement result or the like may be set inadvance as a default value of the cross check target item. Therefore,when introducing the urine sample testing apparatus 1 in the userfacility, the cross check of the measurement results can be carried outby the typically used cross check target item without setting the crosscheck target item, thereby alleviating the load of the user. After theurine sample testing apparatus 1 is introduced, the unique know-how ofthe reliability determination of the measurement result may beaccumulated in the user facility, or the relationship of the measurementvalue of the urine qualitative measurement item and the measurementvalue of the urine sediment measurement item in a specific illness maybe newly found, and then the user may set a unique cross check targetitem.

In the embodiment described above, a configuration of accepting thespecification of both the urine qualitative measurement item and theurine sediment measurement item for the cross check target items in thecross check setting dialogue has been described, but this is not thesole case. A configuration of having a specific urine qualitativemeasurement item as a fixed set value, accepting the specification ofthe urine sediment measurement item corresponding to the urinequalitative measurement item, and setting the combination thereof as thecross check target item may be adopted, or a configuration of having aspecific urine sediment measurement item as a fixed set value, acceptingthe specification of the urine qualitative measurement itemcorresponding to the urine sediment measurement item, and setting thecombination thereof as the cross check target item may be adopted.

A configuration of displaying the combination of a plurality of urinequalitative measurement items and urine sediment measurement items on ascreen with each combination being selectable, accepting the selectionof the desired combination to be set as the cross check target item fromthe user, and setting the selected combination as the cross check targetitem may be adopted.

In the embodiment described above, a configuration in which themeasurement unit 10 including the urine qualitative measuring section 11and the urine sediment measuring section 12, and the informationprocessing unit 30 are separately arranged, and the measurement unit 10and the information processing unit 30 are communicably connected hasbeen described, but this is not the sole case. A configuration in whichthe urine qualitative measuring section 11, the urine sediment measuringsection 12, and the information processing unit 30 are mounted in onehousing may be adopted.

In the above-described embodiment, a configuration of executing thesetting of the cross check target item and the cross check of themeasurement results by the information processing unit 30 of the urinesample testing apparatus 1 has been described, but this is not the solecase. A configuration in which the urine qualitative testing apparatusand a urine sediment testing apparatus are separately arranged, thecross check target item can be set in a urine sample test resultprocessing apparatus where communicably connected to such apparatuses,the urine qualitative analysis result by the urine qualitative testingapparatus and the urine sediment analysis result by the urine sedimenttesting apparatus are received by the urine sample test resultprocessing apparatus, and the cross check of the urine qualitativeanalysis result and the urine sediment analysis result is executed bythe set cross check target item may be adopted.

What is claimed is:
 1. A urine sample testing apparatus comprising: afirst measuring section configured to measure at least protein, albumin,creatinine and albumin/creatinine ratio in a urine sample; a secondmeasuring section configured to measure at least cast and red blood cellin the urine sample; a display; and a controller communicably connectedto the first and second measuring sections and the display, andconfigured to: determine whether a measurement value ofalbumin/creatinine ratio and a measurement value of cast have apredetermined relationship; and show a determination result on thedisplay.
 2. The urine sample testing apparatus of claim 1, wherein thecontroller shows, as the determination result, an indication on thedisplay when the measurement value of albumin/creatinine ratio and themeasurement value of cast have the predetermined relationship.
 3. Theurine sample testing apparatus of claim 2, wherein the indicationindicates that renal disease is suspected.
 4. The urine sample testingapparatus of claim 3, wherein the renal disease is early diabetic renaldisease.
 5. The urine sample testing apparatus of claim 1, wherein thepredetermined relationship is that the measurement value ofalbumin/creatinine ratio is higher than a threshold and the measurementvalue of cast is higher than a threshold.
 6. The urine sample testingapparatus of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to: determinewhether or not a measurement value of protein and a measurement value ofred blood cell have a predetermined relationship; and show, as thedetermination result, a second indication on the display when themeasurement value of protein and the measurement value of red blood cellhave the predetermined relationship.
 7. The urine sample testingapparatus of claim 6, wherein the second indication indicates that renaldisease is suspected.
 8. The urine sample testing apparatus of claim 7,wherein the renal disease is chronic nephritis.
 9. The urine sampletesting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the screen includes a first regionshowing a measurement result obtained by the fist measuring section, asecond region showing a measurement result obtained by the secondmeasuring section, and a third region showing the determination result.10. The urine sample testing apparatus of claim 1, further comprising atransporting section configured to transport a sample container whichcontains the urine sample, wherein each of the first and secondmeasuring sections aspirates the urine sample from the sample containertransported by the transport unit and measure the aspirated urinesample.
 11. The urine sample testing apparatus of claim 10, wherein thetransporting section transports the sample container to the firstmeasuring section before transporting the sample container to the secondmeasuring section, and the second measuring section aspirates the urinesample from the transported sample container when a measurement resultobtained from the first measuring section meets a predeterminedcriteria.
 12. The urine sample testing apparatus of claim 11, whereinthe transporting section comprises: a first tank region for storing arack which holds a pre-measurement sample container; a second tankregion for storing a rack which holds a post-measurement samplecontainer; and a coupling region for coupling the first tank region andthe second tank region, and a position for aspirating the urine sampleby the first measuring section and a position for aspirating the urinesample by the second measuring section are arranged at the couplingregion.
 13. The urine sample testing apparatus of claim 1, furthercomprising an operation part that is operable by a user to specify acombination of albumin/creatinine ratio and cast.
 14. The urine sampletesting apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured toshow on the display an item setting screen, as the operation part, forspecifying the combination of albumin/creatinine ratio and cast, andaccept the specification of the combination through the item settingscreen.
 15. The urine sample testing apparatus of claim 14, wherein theitem setting screen includes a relationship setting portion for settingthe predetermined relationship for the specified combination, the urinesample testing apparatus further includes a memory for storing thepredetermined relationship set by the relationship setting portion. 16.An apparatus for processing a measurement result of a urine sample,comprising: a measurement result acquiring unit configured to acquire ameasurement result from a first measuring section which measures atleast protein, albumin, creatinine and albumin/creatinine ratio in aurine sample, and configured to acquire a measurement result from asecond measuring section which measures at least cast and red blood cellin the urine sample; a display; and a controller configured to:determine whether a measurement value of albumin/creatinine ratio and ameasurement value of cast have a predetermined relationship; and show adetermination result on the display.
 17. A urine sample testing methodcomprising: measuring at least protein, albumin, creatinine andalbumin/creatinine ratio in a urine sample with a first measuringdevice; measuring at least cast and red blood cell in the urine samplewith a second measuring device; determining whether a measurement valueof albumin/creatinine ratio and a measurement value of cast have apredetermined relationship; and showing a determination result on adisplay.
 18. The urine sample testing method of claim 17, wherein anindication, as the determination result, is shown on the display whenthe measurement value of albumin/creatinine ratio and the measurementvalue of cast have the predetermined relationship.
 19. The urine sampletesting method of claim 18, wherein the indication indicates that renaldisease is suspected.
 20. The urine sample testing method of claim 19,wherein the renal disease is early diabetic renal disease.